A local Victoria taxi driver, BJ Roberts, has a fond memory of meeting the renowned scientist in the early 90's.
Roberts tells CFAX he got a call from his boss for a 'special' pick up at the Victoria Clipper when it was located at the old Tourism Bureau.
He says he pulled up to the Clipper and Stephen Hawking and entourage got into the van. Roberts says Hawking had a big computer strapped onto his wheelchair, and a voice assisted device so he could speak. He told the cabbie to head out to the university.
"And he asked me about a couple of things like how do I like Victoria? And I said I've lived here a long time and I like it. And then we went to the university and drove around a bit, and he wanted to go through Oak Bay, and then we came back downtown and I dropped him off at the Clipper."
Roberts says he often thinks of the time he got the chance to meet Hawking.
Hawking died Wednesday at the age of 76.